Ervin screamed in terrible agony, limp on the floor. He could not feel his legs, he felt weak, and he dared not even attempt to look at his legs. They were gone. He knew that, he couldn't feel them, but he didn't want to look anyway. Not that the pain would let him.
The Tyranid was shot to death above him, and slumped back into the shadows, its lifeless form riddled with holes. A mess of blood and body parts sprayed around the corridor from it. Ervin cried as he looked out at the glass pane beside him, into the vastness of space. So cold and uncaring. This was it. He was done for. He was encircled by the others, the Stormtroopers igniting the corridor in promethium as it burned hotly. But he was still cold. Richell knelt beside him.
"Ervin, hold on. Listen to me, don't you dare die voidsman!"
Ervin took several short deep breaths. His hands shook, his whole body shook. He was dying. That was it. That was…
He shook his head.
"I… I hope I did you proud, Richell."
Richell gritted her teeth. Every time she grew close to someone this happened. They went away. She could hardly bare it. But as a commander, she always had to accept that her soldiers were destined to die. Not even the Emperor would decide when, it just happened. And now, here she was again. After Ervin had just gotten his nerve, after she…
Emile stood beside her, bolter in hand as he looked on ahead. This was unfortunate, and tragic. Yet he knew that they had a mission to accomplish. Where they thought he would die immediately, he survived. Ervin's life was not spent in vain, at least, Emile hoped Richell would see it as such. He looked at his bolter, and considered the thought of mercy. But it was not his place to do so. No.
"Commander Richell. We must move on."
Richell gripped the small autogun at her side. She only carried it around for such things as this. As much as she hoped never to use it. She knew what the Space Marine told her. She knew that they could not stay for a dying man. Yet as she looked down at him, shivering and barely breathing, something came over her. Pity perhaps. No, that wasn't it. It reminded her of something… that day Viola was taken away from her. Rue the day…
"My liege… I…"
Emile rested a hand on her shoulder, heavy as it pressed on her.
"He will not last long, Commander Richell. I am sorry, but it is best to give him the Emperors mercy. So that he will not suffer and we can move on."
Ervin was terrified. He knew what was about to happen. But… he… he didn't want to die. He didn't want to die! Fuck! But he knew it was best. He had to. Nobody chose their fate in this forsaken universe. He had to accept that.
"Richell… you… you have to do it…"
Richell flinched at his words. She gripped the handle of her small autogun, and pulled it away from her belt. She held it up, tears almost in her eyes. She had learned to hold them at bay so long ago, and here she would do no different. She firmly held the gun besides Ervins head, who gave her a last smile. A last smile…
Just before all this had transpired, Viola monitored the progress of the ground team on their mission. They had managed to fend off one wave of the Tyranids aboard the vessel. Much to her comfort, only minimal casualties were had. But she and Reginald both knew that they would not last long given their current estimates. Reginald peered over the map constructed from the data provided by the Dark Anvil. He grunted in frustration as he saw what it revealed. Viola was frustrated as well, though she knew full and well that this mission had to have something pop up. They always did.
"A hive ship is jammed within the confines of the hulk. It was simply too deep to detect at first, was it? I don't think we were told everything, my dear Viola."
Viola watched the heart monitors of those members still alive from her boarding crew.
"I am not so sure. Though, I believe they had more of a suspicion as towards the scale of the xenos incursion aboard the hulk. That's likely why they had so many troops and war machines dedicated to this."
Reginald sighed as he turned towards her.
"You are right. What of the Techpriest they sent us? Has Verdun and him gotten along?"
Viola mused at the thought.
"They are probably enjoying their little mechanical hearts out. Once they connected the feed, they went off together to discuss topics of the mechanicum. I'm sure it has been a breath of fresh air for Vurdun."
From his seat, the Commander of the Faceless legions forces, spoke up.
"I assure you. The Magos did not know of the presence of a hive ship. We simply considered the possibility of a genestealer infestation and prepared accordingly. Do not worry, things will go as planned. As for 02, I am sure he is trying to sway that techpriest of yours about now."
Viola looked over to him, glad he finally showed signs of intelligence.
"Well, you have been rather quiet lately haven't you? Why is that, commander?"
The Commander propped his elbows on his knees, even his power fist clamped together with his normal one.
"Forgive me, Lady Viola. I simply wished to observe both you and Lord Reginald myself first."
Reginald turned to face him as well.
"We assumed. Now, may you provide us with a name?"
The commander nodded.
"Very well. My name is Ergo, Commander of the 51st legionaries, devoted to the protection and aide of our allies the Dark Anvil. Particularly the Magos. As I told you before, I am but a loyal member of my order. So, what is our course of action?"
Viola looked over the display of the mapped hulk. The hive ship was embedded deep within its form, its tendrils slowly but surely growing along its corridors. She was no expert on these foul creatures biology, but she knew their adaptability. If they were left to their own devices while trapped within the hulk, the tendrils would only reach further and further until it consumed it entirely. Fed by any poor souls who come across it and attempt to board. They could not risk the chance of the hulk becoming something else…
"The hulk needs to be eliminated, before the Tyranids manage to cover it all."
Commander Ergo stood from his seat.
"I agree. But, I am sure you are both aware that we will not leave until what we have come for is attained?"
Reginald knew well the stakes of this. They all had high stakes in this. That is why he looked so carefully over the schematics of the known hulk. There were several plasma cores of ships long passed between the Dark Age ship and the embedded Tyranid hive ship. As a Lord of his house he was trained from the time he was able in the art of war and politics. House Valor priding themselves on their tactical prowess. Though even the fearsome knight would fall to enough enemies, and that was a lesson pressed onto every young pilots mind. That is why, when an enemy force larger than oneself was coming, one cut their path and divided the enemies' numbers. The Hulk before them was made into an abhorrent sphere of twisted ships and debris. The plasma cores all condensed in its center. If they were to explode, the hulk would violently rip and separate given his estimations. If the tales he heard of Dark Age technology was true, and the ship they intended to scope was intact, it would survive the explosion with no repercussions. All of their current forces could be moved within to withhold the blast. The rest of the hulk exposed to the vacuum of space, and the majority likely frozen over as all air was pulled out-effectively killing the hive ship inside. Not that they wouldn't bombard that section of the hulk afterwards until it was not but fragments. It was a more than risky and complex plan, but it could work. Perhaps it was their best chance.
"I suggest that we separate our forces from the enemy. Only…"
Viola already assumed the plan that ran through his head. Daring certainly. Though she knew that it all depended upon the Magos.
"How will the Magos react?"
Commander Ergo walked over to the simulated map. He saw what they intended. Very well.
"I will contact the Magos immediately. And then, if he approves, we can move forward with what plan you propose. As long as my forces aren't an expendable resource, of course."
Viola tapped her forehead with a roll of the eyes.
"Trust me. We would rather not waste such resources."
The screen depicting her boarding forces life monitors started to flash red as they were suddenly attacked again. She turned quickly to see what had happened, only to also realize that the Magos had also just made landfall onto the hulk. Not but a few meters away from her boarding team. The Magos indeed had landed at the proper time. Not as effectively or as close to his target as she would have accepted, but it was well enough that he landed by friendly forces.
Those friendly forces currently in a bout of mercy as Richell raised her auto-gun to shoot Ervin and put him out of his misery. None noticed the arrival of the Magos who simply hovered over them and stared down at the scene before him. It would be a waste for a soldier to die now. All had to be used as long as possible.
"Hold off, guardsman."
Richell pulled away her hand as she noticed the giant that stood before them, nearly double the size of the noble Space Marines. His massive bulking frame a mesh of mechanical legs and numerous other parts that only the Magos himself understood, barely cloaked by the massive black and white cloth that hung over him. Emile gave a small bow for respect, his brother Eli doing the same.
"Magos. I see you are unharmed."
The Magos reached down with several of his many servo arms and grasped Ervin. A whir of gears and other parts running as he did so. Ervin too frightened to say anything as the Magos looked him over. Those of the flesh were always so dramatic when parts were lost.
"Ah… not but legs are missing."
Behind him two of his other servo arms grabbed two of the many leg units attached to his undercarriage and unhinged them. With but a subconscious action, two other servo arms prepared them for the next step. Such was a simple surgery, one easily accomplished by one such as himself. One of his favorite procedures after all, was the meshing of flesh and machine. A bit of practice would be good while he was here, in preparation for what he would need to investigate.
"It will take all but a moment. Please, do not scream."
A dozen of his many limbs set to work, before even a whisper of protest could be given by anyone. Ervin felt as the Magos tore into the ripped parts of his legs, removed excess bone and dug mechanical wires into his very nerves. It was all too much for him, and he passed out into unconsciousness. The pain no longer bearable. Luckily for him, for all else had to watch as the Magos performed the surgery openly without a care, blood and pieces of flesh thrown here and there, as the mechanical legs were finally meshed with the voidsmans stumps. Emile and the stormtoopers uncaring for the gruesome deed, compared to Eli who could only stare away. Lt. Jimmy couldn't bare the sight and looked away, nearly throwing up. Of all the horrors he had seen this outdone a good many of them. Richell similarly was in awe and disgust of what transpired before her eyes, but just as well was relieved. She carefully stuffed the autogun back into her holster, and watched. Ervin would live, the lucky bastard.
When the Magos was done. He tossed Ervin, still unconscious over towards Richell who caught him in her arms.
"There… now, I hope that this shares some goodwill. Your master is a very… paranoid woman. Now, does anyone else, require repairs?"
He noticed that one of the Stormtroopers hands were nearly removed. Ah. More practice.
Without any regard for an answer he pulled them out of their rank and set to work replacing their hand, noticing several others who would benefit from his repairs.
Emile held onto his helmet to contact Vioa through his vox.
"Viola, are you there?"
Viola responded swiftly.
"I see you lost a guardsman. Give Richell my usual condolences. What of the Magos?"
Emile looked at the behemoth of machine before him, as he gleefully replaced a hand of one of the stormtoopers with one of his seemingly endless replacements.
"We have him. We will proceed to escorting him back now."
Violas tone changed as she responded with an immediacy she usually reserved.
"Emile, begin heading back immediately! There is a swarm headed in your direction."
The Magos spoke up, having intercepted all of their communications.
"It appears so, Lady Viola. With our current forces, it would be impossible to get back the way we came. So I suggest, a shortcut downward into the corridors they came from."
"If it would save time and resources, then do it Magos."
That was all the Magos needed to hear as he began to use the plasma cutters installed in his chases on the floor beneath him. The metal burned hot red as he began to cut through for what supported it.
"This will take a small amount of time. I hope that you Space Marines are on par with my simulations. Do not disappoint me."
Emile and Eli turned down the hallway as the screeches of before echoed off the walls. The sparks of blades rubbing against the floor lighting through the darkness to reveal the monstrous glimpses of the Tyranid bio-forms that raced for them.
Emile gave Eli a nod.
"Prepare for battle! Defensive positions!"
Promethium fired from the Stormtroopers at the front, as all else fired their weapons ahead into the writhing mass. Those that first came were mowed to pieces, while the second wave ran directly into the flames melting to a halt on contact. They held off for now, but soon the waves would become so crowded it would be inevitable.
Eli was almost blindsided by one that came from a vent above. Using his bolter as a shield he tossed the creature to the ground. Using the combat knife at his side he swiftly brought it to bare. The tyranid was quick to stand nearly shoving him in the process. But Eli would not give it the chance, and with his free hand pushed onto its neck. He swung his knife through its eyes immediately after, till it fell limp. Only to turn to the side and swing at the next one that attempted to strike him. He managed to shove it aside as he stepped back toward the Magos. He noted that his Bolter was covered by the corpse of another Tyranid blasted by a volley of las fire. He gripped his armored hands tight into fists knowing he had no other options.
The Magos noticed him turned in his direction.
"Weaponless, Space Marine?"
Eli grabbed the head of another Tyranid that hopped over a stormtrooper, ripping its arm off with a single tug. Then turning the bladed end on its former body, shoving it through its neck as blood splattered all across his armor.
"No. Do not doubt me, Magos."
The Magos ran several more calculations while he continued to melt away at the ground in search for the beam which made the floor stable. Without a weapon the Space Marine would likely only last several more Tyranids before the probabilities became too skewed.
"Here, take this."
The Magos pulled a plasma gun from underneath his cloak, from his stash of weapons. He had hoped to save this for later lest the opportunity was direr. However, the Space Marines were too much of an asset.
Eli grabbed it and brought it to half charge. He had had very little experience with such heavy weapons but, he would manage. He pulled the trigger as a hot stream of plasma streamed forward in a ball and melted into the horde ahead of them. Eli couldn't help but give a smirk underneath his helmet, for this certainly felt more effective than his bolter right now.
Two Stormtroopers were plucked away from the side as a large snakelike Tyranid slithered from the side corridor. Using its long tentacles it gripped around their necks and snapped them, pulling their bodies to its mouth as it consumed their heads, seeking the information contained within their brains. Lt. Jimmy brought his flamer to its face as it keeled away, only to be eviscerated from the plasma shot fired by Richell who still clung to Ervin's unconscious body.
Lt. Jimmy was tired of this shit! He looked at the Magos who cut through the ground.
"Would you hurry up you damned clanker!"
The Magos would have been bothered if he hadn't already injected himself with his emotional suppressants.
"The task is done."
The floor before them gave way as the beam which supported this section of floor was finally cut in half. All the forces falling down to the corridor below without warning. The Magos using a dozen of his servo arms to toss meltabombs. They bolted at unprecedented speed from their grasp and into the corridor above them. Just as calculated they exploded in the proper time, the corridor collapsed into a mess of melted metal and dead tyranid bioforms, only three Stormtroopers caught in the blast. Unfortunately, several Stormtroopers, two guardsmen and that Voidsman he had saved fell into a different corridor on the lower level. A large piece of debris falling over the hole so that it blocked them from following. Unfortunate and nothing else. It was a calculated risk, one that was necessary.
Emile pushed himself up from his knee, barely fazed by the sudden turn of events. He looked first for his brother Eli, who had fallen beside the Magos, but who was otherwise unharmed. Then he looked at the remaining forces. All he could see were about ten Stormtroopers. A foolish wave of sadness over the likelihood of Richells death soon after. A feeling he had to shake away.
"Commander Richell."
The Magos looked to him, his head swayed akin to a snake, his neck covered in hundreds of wires and hoses.
"Unfortunately they were separated from us into the adjacent corridor by the fall. By my calculation there is a slim chance they will recover and make it back to the sanctum where the Dark Age ship is currently. Now, come along Space Marine. We must make ground."
Emile dreaded such times as this. The mission had to go on. Even if it was without the others. He walked over to Eli, who brushed off the dust from his armor.
"Are you unhurt?"
Eli gave him an affirmative nod.
"Yes. But… what of the others trapped?"
Emile only walked on after the Magos who continued forward.
"There is nothing to be done. I am sorry, Eli. We need to focus on the task at hand."
Eli gripped his hands tightly together. To be a space marine was never easy. Begrudgingly he followed after, haunted by the thought of those they left behind, trapped in another corridor. A hint of anger directed at his brother for simply giving up on them, even if it was the most logical path. Not that he didn't understand why. The Stormtroopers with them all gathering themselves and their weapons before they continued along, rank and file.
Emile did care however, and so he reported it in.
"Viola. Do you hear me?"
Viola responded. Through her voice, he could tell she already knew the situation. She did come to care of commander Richell, if only because she told herself that she was useful. But there was something else, like something deep down she could not gather. But this was not the place for sentimentality. Loss was inevitable in these operations.
"Yes…"
"Commander Richell was separated from us. Along with several others."
"Yes."
Emile trudged on, they all did, further away.
"There is a chance."
"A slim one."
Silence came soon after. It was unusual for Viola to do so with him, and Emile knew that she felt something from this. Where she had so easily left thousands to die in painful agony before, this was different. It only made it all tragic given that Richell had known Viola before, even if Viola wasn't aware of it.
"Viola, what do you think of Commander Richell."
Viola grunted.
"Do not console me Emile. I do not need it."
That all but confirmed Emiles suspicion that she cared. That was enough for now.
"I am sorry. I will not pry."
Viola didn't end the line, merely remained quiet. She didn't know why either. This was a different feeling for her. She had always been able to trust commander Richell to accomplish whatever task she gave her. Viole had assigned her on life or death missions thousands of times before this, and she always came back. She always…
She needed to stop this foolishness. Richell knew the inevitability of life as a guardsmen. But she wasn't a guardsmen anymore, was she? No… she was a voidsman aboard her crew. Viola rarely thought of anyone among her crew, save those individuals who either garnered her approval or those who got her scorn. The prior of those two generally lasting long enough for her to dispose of before she promptly forgot them. But Richell… things had always been strange with her. Damn that woman for this... why did she care so much for this? This simple matter of life and death which was so common in this universe. She was able to send thousands to die, doom entire planets, and this is what bothered her. That one of her crew was lost, and likely to die. It was frustrating.
She held her stomach. Perhaps that she would be a mother was all that this was. Her brain convincing her to have such sympathies. Yes… that was what it was. While she would give such to her child and Reginald, they were above the normal populace. She was above the normal populace.
Reginald was behind her, still looking over the maps. He noticed her fidget as she moved her seat. He turned around to see her, her face rife with uncertainty. She felt sorry for those who had died. Reginald had lost many a comrade in arms before, and some he had even ordered. He always felt grief for their loss, but it was the natural course of things.
"It is only human, Viola, to care."
Viola turned back to look at him.
"I know. But that doesn't make it any less frustrating."
Reginald nodded.
"Despite our status, those we order to live rarely do. It is frustrating to see those we have deemed to care about die, Viola, do not have shame in it. They are not dead yet, they have a chance. But, we both know the likelihood of that."
Viola sighed, laid her head back onto the seat and peered up at the ceiling.
"You are right. I do feel sad. They were good soldiers."
Reginald gave her a comforting nudge.
"Shall we push on, my dear Viola?"
Viola looked at the screen of the life signals of the boarding team she sent. The stormtroopers nothing but expendable fodder, the voidsman and the guardsman with Richell all the same. Commander Richell herself though… blast it. She cared for one of her underlings, and that was fine. She was human after all.
The commander of the Faceless Legion looked over to her. He was slightly amazed by the compassion shown by Viola. Part of this visit was to determine the character of these new allies, and he was glad for it. That she was an Inquisitor attempting to leave her order, was all he needed know, but that she had the capacity for compassion for those she sent earned respect from him. The Faceless Legion prided themselves on their soldiers, and those they kept alive. Perhaps, he could help in this. A show of goodwill, to allies in need.
"Lady Viola, if I may…"
Viola looked up to him. So he wanted to be useful now, did he.
"I was hoping you would speak up, Commander."
Just a heads up, wont be posting a chapter next Thursday and possibly Friday due to Thanksgiving. I edit every chapter before I post and usually that usually takes a good while, and not sure if I will be able to during those days. But, chapters will be posted as usual on Saturday and Sunday. Anyhow, Happy Thanksgiving all, hope everything's going well, and as always, thanks for reading!
